Copper pipes are used for plumbing in some homes and can provide a rustic accent to your interior decor. Unfortunately, copper pipes can become dirty and unappealing due to dirt, calcium, lime, and rust buildup. Luckily, there are a variety of different techniques that you can use to clean and polish your copper pipes so that they look brand new.

Steps

Method1

Removing Calcium Lime and Rust Deposits

1

Dilute calcium lime and rust remover with water. Read the instructions and warnings on the back of the bottle. Pour an equal amount of the chemical and warm water in a bowl.[1]

You can purchase calcium lime and rust remover from most department stores or online.

Work in a well-ventilated area.

Wear rubber gloves to protect your skin.

2

Dip a cotton rag into the cleaner. Saturate a corner of a cotton cloth with the chemical and water solution that you just created. A cotton cloth will prevent scratches that would be created with a rough brush.[2]

The rag does not need to be fully saturated with the solution to work. Just dip it in the solution enough to get a small part of the rag wet.

3

Scrub the surface of your pipe with the rag. Apply the solution onto the surface of the pipe and rub it in a back and forth motion. Keep dipping your cotton rag in the chemical solution as it dries. This should remove any calcium, lime, and rust deposits that may have formed on the copper pipe.[3]

You may have to go over your pipe multiple times if it's very dirty.

4

Rinse and dry the copper. Run cold water over the pipes to remove any chemical that's still on the pipe. Once it's rinsed down, you should wipe down the surface of the pipe with a separate, clean rag. Your pipe should now look shiny and brand new.[4]

Method2

Polishing Copper With a Vinegar and Salt Paste

1

Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Combine 1/4 cup (21 g) of flour and 1/4 cup (21 g) of salt in a small bowl. The abrasiveness of the salt will help remove any stuck on tarnish, oxidation, and grime, while the flour will form the solution into a paste.[5]

Pour white vinegar into the bowl and mix. Slowly pour white vinegar onto the flour and salt at 1/4 cup (59.14 ml) at a time and mix the solution together. Continue to add vinegar to the mixture until it forms a paste with a similar consistency to toothpaste.[7]

3

Rub the solution onto the surface of your copper pipes. Dip a clean cotton rag into the paste that you created and thoroughly rub it over the surface of the pipes. Try to go with the grain to prevent scratches on the copper. The paste should start to break away any built up gunk. Continue working in a back and forth motion until the surface of the pipes shines. [8]

4

Let the solution sit on the pipes for 10 minutes. As the solution sits, it will break down any remaining oxidation and hard water deposits on your pipes.[9]

5

Rinse and dry your pipes. Run the pipes under cold water from the faucet until all of the paste has been removed from them. Use a soft, cotton cloth to wipe down and dry your pipes. Once you're done, the pipes should shine.

Method3

Soaking Pipes in White Vinegar

1

Place the copper pipes into a large bin. To clean the pipes with vinegar, you'll need to let them soak. If you are just trying to clean copper fittings, you can fit them in a 5-gallon (18.92 ml) bucket. Otherwise, place your pipes in a bin that's large enough to hold them.

2

Pour a gallon (3.78 l) of distilled white vinegar into the bin. Make sure that the pipes are immersed in the white vinegar. If they are not, you may need to pour additional white vinegar into your bin.[10]

Let the pipes sit in the solution for 15 minutes. As the pipes sit in the vinegar, the acetic acid will start to remove oxidation and hard water deposits inside and outside of the pipes.[12]

4

Scrub down the pipes with a sponge or cloth. Use a sponge or a cotton cloth to gently work away any remaining hard water deposits or soap scum that hasn't dissolved in the vinegar. At this point, the acidity in the vinegar should loosen up any stuck on calcium deposits.[13]

5

Rinse down your pipes with cold water. Run your cleaned pipes under cold water from a hose or faucet to remove any remaining vinegar.

6

Dry the pipes with a clean rag. Wipe down the pipes individually until they are completely dry. Apply heat with a hairdryer if you're having trouble drying the inside of the pipes. Your pipes should now be shiny.